Centering and supporting device for train pipes



E. R. VIBERG GNTRING AND SUPPORTING DEVICE- FOR TRAIN PIPESv 'Fired Jan. 2e 1925 Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

maire. sraras ERNEST R. VIBERG, OF MONTREAL, QLUEBEQJCANADA.

incassi ele/ier,...

CENTERING AND SUPP()RTNGV DEVICE FORv TRAIN PIPES.

Application filed January ze, 1925. sei-n1 Ind. 4,930.

This invention relates to the new and useful improvements in sliding carriers for air brake signal: andl steam heating pipe lines and is especially adapted' for use in connection with the trainy pipe sections which are connected by couplings which automatically uncouple when suflicient strain or pull is exerted. on them, a condition which frequently develops when going aroundy the coupler as possible whilethe cars are rounding curves or bends in the track..

Another object is tov provide a carrier of the elass statedl which will oscill'ate with the coupler and maintain a predetermined distance between the coupler and the centers of the signal, air brake and steam heaty pipe lines and also between` the centers of. these` pipes and the rail level.

A further object. is to provide a carrier of the class stated which will'operate in conjunction. withthe coupler centering device.

A 'still further object is to provide a pipe line carrier which will hold the' steamvalve in an absolute position at all times to allowl easy manipulation of the opening and closing mechanism of the valve.

A still further object is to provide a car# rier which will be sim-ple and eiiicient in operation.

' In my invention I provide a carrier which is mounted on guides attached to the centering device. The carrier is provided with means adapted to engage with the sides of the coupler shank which, in turn, is controlled by the coupler centering device. The air brake and signal pipes which are on one side of the coupler are secured to the carrier by a clip while the steam pipe which is on the other side of the coupler is secured to the carrier by means of a pivotally mounted bracket which engages with., part of the valve of the steam pipe and prevents rotary move ment of the valve which remains a predeter-` mined distance rom the center of the coupler at all times and allows easy manipulation of the valve openingand'closing mechanism. The pipes are spaced from one another to allow tree movement of the coupler when rounding curves.

In the drawings. i Figure 1 is a partial end view of' a car showin-g my improved pipe carrier attached to the coupler centering device. y

Figure 9. is a sectional elevation of the device taken on the line 2--2 Figure 1.k v

Figure 3 is a plan view of the centering device and the pipe carrier, and

Figure, 4 is aside elevation ofv the steam valve support.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates a portion kor' the underiraming. or' a car body to which is attached the coupler support bar 13 by any suitable means. The centeringr device for the coupler designated as a whole by the numeral 1Q' is secured to the coupler support by means oi" the bar bracket 14, the ends 15 and 16 of.

which are' bent downwardly and are provided with apertures whichA form bearings 17 for the bolt 18 passing through said ends. Slid'ably mounted on the bolt 18 and between thebearings 17 are the centering castings 19 and 20', the upwardly projecting ends 211 and 2Q of which engage with the sides ofv the draw bar 23, in such a mann-er that on any lateral movement of the draw bar, a

spring 24 mounted between the centeringl casting bearings 25Y will bel compressed' and, will tend to bring the coupler back vtowardsthecenter of the car; 4The spring is mounted on the' bolty 18 and a sleeve 26 is placed between. the spring and the 'bolt and between'the bearings 25 to limit the movement. of the coupler and to hold the spring in po:- sition. Secured to the ends 15 and' 16 are the guide brackets 27 which proj ect outwardly from said ends in the horizontal direction and are provided with closed Slo-ts 28. Slidably mounted in the slots is the pipe line carrier 29 having upwardly projecting end 30 to which are attached the air brake pipe 81 and the signal pipe 32 by means of the clip 33 which may be secured to the carrier by means of a single bolt 34:. The air brake and signal pipe lines are on one side of the coupler while the steam heat pipe line 35 is situated on the other side of the coupler bar. The pipe lines may be provided with ball swivel joints 36, one of which is shown in Figure 2 to allow free movement of the ends of the pipes. The center portions of atI loo.

these pipes may be secured by any suitab-le means to the bolster or the car framing. The end of the steam pipe is provided with a valve 37 having a hexagonal portion 38 which may be positioned above the carrier.

The valve is of the usual type used for this purpose and is arranged for easy manipulation ot the opening and closing mechanism. To prevent turning of the. valve and also accidental operation of same a casting or bearing 39 is provided, pivotally attached to the carrier by means ot' the bolt 40. The bearing is provided with a recessed portion 41. adapted to engage with the hexagonal portion 38 of the valve to hold same against rotary movement. A bolt 42 is placed through the bearing to hold the valve in position. The bearing being pivotally mounted on the carrier allows the tree movement of the pipe and the carrier bar while they are in operation. Mounted on and secured to the carrier is the saddle 43, the upwardly projecting sides of which engage with the sides of the draw bar and trans-' mit any horizontal movement of the draw bar to the pipe line carrier.

Modifications may be made in the construction of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention, and such modifications may consist of forming the guides integral with the centering bracket 14 and also forming the saddle integral with the carrier. The operation of the device is very simple. On movement of the coupler bar, mot-ion is transmitted to the pipe line carrier by means of the saddle which engages with thev sides of the coupler shank. The pipes being attached to the carrier move with same and the said pipes are held a predetermined distance away from the coupler shank to allow free movement of the coupler head and to prevent same from fouling the pipe line couplers (not shown). By attaching the steam pipe to the carrier by means of the pivotally mounted bracket, allowance is. made to prevent binding of the carrier in its guides. The bracket also holds the valve in its set position for easy manipulation of its closing and opening mechanl. The combination of a coupler support,

a bar fixed to the underside of said support and equipped with depending terminals, a pair of brackets iiXed to and projecting torw'ardly from the depending terminals of said bar, a pipe carrier mounted to slide in slots formed in said bracketsv a member fixed to the carrier between said brackets and engageable with opposite sides of the draw bar to cause the carrier to move therewith and pipe holding means carried by the terminal portions of the carrier outwardly of said brackets.

2. A pipe carrier for draw bar supporting and centering structures comprising a pair of brackets adapted to be rigidly attached to a draw bar supporting structure to project torwardly therefrom, a pipe carrier mounted to slide through openings formed in said brackets, a U-shaped member fixed to the central portion of the carrier between said brackets with the arms of said member extending upwardly for engagement with opposite sides of a draw bar to cause the carrier to move therewith, one lend ot said carrier being bent upwardly at an angle to the body of the carrier and equipped with means Jfor holding the air brake and signal pipes thereto, the remaining end of the carrier being equipped with means for securing the steam pipe thereto.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST nvIBERG. 

